Mexican Sarsaparilla
Smilax aristolochiifolia

Family: Smilacaceae

What it is like

Mexican Sarsaparilla, Smilax aristolochiifolia, is a perennial climbing plant native to Mexico and Central America. It is also known as gray sarsaparilla or sarsaparilla. Its leaves are ovate, paper-like, leathery, and alternate. The fruits are small red berries with 2 or 3 seeds. The flowers are small and green, readily symmetrical, and dioecious. S. aristolochiifolia is medicinally used against inflammation, itching, digestive problems, fevers, kidney disorders, gonorrhea, scrofulous, skin diseases, and rheumatism. Root extracts are used as flavoring in beverages, ice cream, confectioneries, and bakery products.

Smilax aristolochiifolia is an evergreen Perennial Climber growing to 5 m (16ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 5

Where it is found

Not known

Central America - Belize, Guatemala, Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Root extracts are used to flavour soft drinks ice cream, confectionery and bakery products. A bitter, liquorice-like root.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 4

Mexican sarsaparilla (the roots and rhizome) is a sweet, acrid, alterative herb that reduces inflammation, controls itching, improves digestion and elimination and is antiseptic. This is one of three species (the others are S. Febrifuga and S. Regelii) that gained a high reputation in the 17th century as cure-alls. They were widely imported into Europe until early in the 20th century, by which time their rather overrated reputation had waned somewhat. However, the plants do have a number of important medicinal benefits - in particular, their roots contain steroidal saponins which are an effective treatment for many cases of psoriasis; they also have hormonal effects, and may improve fertility in women with ovarian dysfunction. The rhizomes are alterative, digestive, febrifuge. A decoction is used in the treatment of fevers, digestive disorders, kidney troubles and gonorrhoea. It is also used against scrophulus, skin diseases and rheumatism.

Acrid: Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.

Alterative: Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.

Digestive: Aids digestion.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Kidney: Used in the treatment of kidney diseases

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Other

Rating: 0

Other Uses: None known

How it is grown

Not known

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

american sarsaparilla, gray sarsaparilla, mexican sarsaparilla, mexiko-sarsaparille, salsapariglia smilace, salsaparrilha, salsaparrilha de minas de gerais, salsaparrilha do mexico, salsaparrilha do para, salsepareille, salsepareille du mexique, sarsaparilla, sarsaparilla radix, ushba, ushba maghrabi, vera cruz sarsaparilla, veracruz sarsaparilla, wild liquorice, zarzaparilla.

Synonyms

Smilax kerberi F.W.Apt Smilax medica Schltdl. & Cham.